Dietary Mixture Research Articles

Haematology and growth performance characteristics of broiler birds fed abattoir wastes (bovine blood and rumen content)

This study was conducted to assess the effects of abattoir wastes (bovine blood and rumen content mixture) on the haematology and growth performance characteristics of broiler birds. One hundred and twenty (120) unsexed day old Abor acre broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 4 treatments and replicated 3 times in a completely randomized design (CRD) experiment. Four experimental diets were formulated to meet the nutrient requirement of broilers such that the birds were fed sundried abattoir waste (bovine blood and rumen content mixture) included at 0%, 5%, 10% and 15% representing Diet 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively, with Diet 1 as the control. Each dietary treatment consists of 30 birds with 10 birds per replicate. The experimental diets and clean water were supplied at- libitum throughout the experimental period. Data were collected on feed intake, daily weight gain, final body weight, weight gain. Feed conversion ratios were calculated. Blood samples for hematology was collected, analyzed and recorded. At the end of the 56 days feeding trials, data collected on different parameters were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results showed that mixtures of bovine blood and rumen content significantly (P<0.05) improved the final weight (1767.02g -1931.44g), weight gain (1367.02g -1528.44g), feed intake (107.47g -118.99g) and feed conversion ratio (4.87 – 4.08) of the broilers. Significant (P<0.05) improvements were observed on the RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH, eosinophyls and the lymphocytes of the haematological parameters of the broilers. These results showed the complementary potentials of bovine blood and rumen content mixture in broiler diets, which can be included up to 15% in the ration of broilers without detrimentally affecting the growth performance and haematology of the broilers.

Influence of Dietary Garlic (Allium sativum) and/or Ascorbic Acid on Performance, Feed Utilization, Body Composition and Hemato-Biochemical Parameters of Juvenile Asian Sea Bass (Lates calcarifer).

Simple SummaryAscorbic acid and garlic have been used in several studies as enhancers or promoters of growth performance and health conditions in mammalian species. However, few studies have been performed in fish. In this regard, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of garlic and/or ascorbic acid on growth performance, feed utilization, chemical body composition, and hemato-biochemical parameters of juvenile Asian sea bass. The results demonstrated that dietary supplementation of garlic alone (40 g/kg diet) was highly effective in improving the studied parameters in comparison with that of ascorbic acid alone or a mixture of garlic (20 g/kg diet) and ascorbic acid (0.75 g/kg diet).The current study investigated effects of garlic (Allium sativum) and/or ascorbic acid on growth performance, feed utilization, biochemical body composition, and hemato-biochemical parameters of juvenile Asian sea bass. A total of 600 fish (43.14 ± 0.23 g body weight) were divided into four groups. Fish in the first group were fed basal diet and served as a control group. Fish in groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed a basal diet mixed with garlic (40 g/kg diet), ascorbic acid (1.5 g/kg diet), or garlic (20 g/kg diet)/ascorbic acid (0.75 g/kg diet) mixture, respectively, for 12 weeks. A significant (p < 0.05) increase was observed in growth performance, feed utilization, and chemical body composition in fish fed garlic alone in comparison with the control and other treated groups. All hematological indices, biochemical parameters, and survival rate were not changed significantly (p > 0.05) in all groups throughout the experimental period when compared with the control. Total cholesterol and feed conversion ratio were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in fish fed garlic alone in comparison to the control and other treated groups. Conclusively, dietary supplementation of garlic alone (40 g/kg diet) was highly effective in improving most of the studied parameters in comparison with that of ascorbic acid alone or a mixture of garlic (20 g/kg diet) and ascorbic acid (0.75 g/kg diet).

Optimal rearing medium for the population growth of the predatory mite, Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

BackgroundThe successful rearing of predators or parasitoids is one of the most important elements in biological control programs. The dried fruit mite, Carpoglyphus lactis (L.), can be used as an alternative prey for the phytoseiid predatory mite, Amblyseius swirs0kii (Athias-Henriot).Main bodyThis study aimed to evaluate the suitability of 3 different diets for C. lactis when rearing A. swirskii: brown sugar, baker’s yeast, and the mixture of brown sugar and baker’s yeast along with 3 initial predator:prey ratios (1:7, 1:12, and 1:20). After 30 days, both the baker’s yeast and the mixture of brown sugar + baker’s yeast diets resulted in the highest predator densities (40.5 times increase at an initial predator:prey ratio of 1:20, with the baker’s yeast diet), whereas the mixture diet produced the highest density of prey. The brown sugar resulted in the lowest number of predator and prey mites. This may be due to lower feeding and predation rates of the prey and the predator mites on the brown sugar medium since its relative moisture content and adhesiveness inhibits mite movement. The final predator:prey ratio was also highest on the baker’s yeast diet.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that the population growth of A. swirskii was the highest when C. lactis was reared on baker’s yeast.

Effect of partial replacement of dietary starch with fiber and fat on performance, feeding behavior, ruminal fermentation and some blood metabolites of Holstein calves

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of partly replacing dietary starch with fiber and fat on growth performance, ruminal fermentation, and blood metabolites during preweaning and postweaning periods (experiment 1) and preference for high starch (HS) and high fiber and fat (HFF) diets after weaning (experiment 2) in calves. In experiment 1, a total of 30 Holstein female calves (4 d of age; 41.0 ± 2.0 kg of body weight) were assigned randomly to a 1) HS starter, 2) HFF starter, and 3) a starter feed containing mixture of diets 1 and 2 (MIX). In experiment 2, 20 weaned Holstein female calves (85 ± 2.0 kg of body weight (BW) were involved in a pairwise preference tests 3 and 5 d postweaning between HS and HFF diets. Diets contained alfalfa hay as forage source; HS contained 430 g/kg starch, 35 g/kg fat, and 163 g/kg neutral detergent fiber, whereas HFF contained 82 g/kg starch, 75 g/kg fat, and 336 g/kg neutral detergent fiber. The results of the first experiment showed that dry matter intake was higher in the MIX diet group in the postweaning period than the other groups and had a tendency to increase dry matter intake throughout the study period. Average daily gain, feed efficiency, body weight, and skeletal growth were not different between treatments. Blood glucose and insulin concentrations (d 35 and 70) were higher in calves fed the HS diet compared to the other treatments. Plasma β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) concentration (d 70) of calves fed HFF diet was higher than those of the HS and MIX diets-fed calves. Rumen fluid pH and acetate concentration in calves fed the HFF diet were higher than those fed the HS and MIX diets. Postweaning, time spent eating was highest in HFF group and lowest in HS group. Calves in HS treatment devoted less time to rumination compared with HFF calves during both pre- and postweaning periods. Lying time was lower for calves fed HFF diet during both pre- and postweaning periods than those fed the HS and HFF diets. The result of the second experiment showed that calves preferred the HFF diet over the HS diet. Results of the present study indicated that despite higher short term preference for HFF than HS diet, performance response and skeletal growth were similar for HS and HFF diets. Providing MIX diet rather than HS and HFF diets increased postweaning intakes of starter without improving ADG and final BW. The practical relevance of HFF diet for long-term productivity of dairy calves remains to be determined.

Dietary Supplementation with Eclipta Alba and Polyalthia Longifolia Foliages on Digestibility, Feeding Behaviour, Blood Profile and Carcass Characteristics of Goats

A feeding trial that lasted for 90 days was carried out to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of Eclipa alba and Polyalthia longifolia foliages on digestibility, feeding behaviour, blood profile and carcass characteristics of goats. A total of thirty two West African dwarf goats of about 7–8 months old were randomly assigned to four treatment diets. Each treatment was replicated four times with two goats per replicate in a completely randomized design. The four formulated treatment diets were, D1 (90% guinea grass with 10% maize straw), D2 (50% guinea grass with 10% maize straw and 40% Eclipta alba foliage), D3 (50% guinea grass with 10% maize straw 20% Eclipta alba with 20% Polyalthia longifolia foliages) and D4 (50% guinea grass with 10% maize straw and 40% Polyalthia longifolia foliage). The results indicated that goats on D1 were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) highest in eating rate, feed conversion ratio, urinary-N-output, urea and creatinine while cholesterol was greater in goats on D2. Crude fiber and ether extract digestibility with white blood cell was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher for goats on D3 than other treatment diets. Feed intake, ruminating rate, live weight gain, dry matter with crude protein digestibility, nitrogen intake with retention, red blood cell, total protein, dressing weight and stomach were significantly higher (P &lt; 0.05) in goats on D4 compared with those on D1, D2 and D3. Eating with ruminating time, initial weight, faecal-N-output and most of the carcass cuts with relative organs showed no significant different (P &gt; 0.05) among treatment diets. It could therefore be concluded that supplementation with Eclipta alba and Polyalthia longifolia foliages or their mixture in diets enhance digestibility, feeding behaviour, blood profile and carcass characteristics without any deleterious effect in goats.

Unlocking the power of fatty acids as dietary tracers and metabolic signals in fishes and aquatic invertebrates.

Determining the transfer and transformation of organic matter in food webs is a fundamental challenge that has implications for sustainable management of ecosystems. Fatty acids (FA) offer a potential approach for resolving complex diet mixtures of organisms because they provide a suite of molecular tracers. Yet, uncertainties in the degree of their biochemical modification by consumers, due to selective retention or metabolism, have limited their application. Here, we consolidated 316 controlled feeding studies of aquatic ectotherms (fishes and invertebrates) involving 1404 species-diet combinations to assess the degree of trophic modification of FA in muscle tissue. We found a high degree of variability within and among taxa in the %FA in consumer muscle tissue versus %FA in diet regression equations. Most saturated FA had weak relationships with the diet (r2 < 0.30) and shallow slopes (m < 0.30), suggesting a lack of retention in muscle when fed in increasing amounts. Contrarily, several essential FA, including linoleic (18:2n-6) and α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3), exhibited significant relationships with the diet (m > 0.35, r2 > 0.50), suggesting supply limitations and selective retention in muscle by consumers. For all FA, relationships strengthened with increasing taxonomic specificity. We also demonstrated the utility of new correction equations by calculating the potential contributions of approximately 20 prey items to the diet of selected species of generalist fishes using a FA mixing model. Our analyses further reveal how a broad range of fishes and invertebrates convert or store these compounds in muscle tissue to meet physiological needs and point to their power in resolving complex diets in aquatic food webs. This article is part of the theme issue 'The next horizons for lipids as 'trophic biomarkers': evidence and significance of consumer modification of dietary fatty acids'.

Performance of the African edible bush‐cricket, Ruspolia differens, on single and mixed diets containing inflorescences of their host plant species

AbstractThe African edible bush‐cricket, Ruspolia differens (Serville) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae), is an economically valuable insect in sub‐Saharan Africa. For its mass‐rearing, suitable diets that can sustain its performance need to be identified. This study aimed at finding inflorescence diets of 10 host plant species and their mixtures that result in the highest R. differens production. We reared newly hatched nymphs to adults on inflorescences of single host species, and also on a gradient of five diversifying dietary mixtures consisting of one and mixtures of two, three, five, and seven host plant species. For the single host‐plant diets, the developmental time was shortest on Pennisetum purpureum, Chloris gayana, and Brachiaria ruziziensis (approximately 63 days), whereas the fresh weight was highest on B. ruziziensis and P. purpureum (approximately 0.383 g). Survival was highest (&gt;65%) on C. gayana, P. purpureum, B. ruziziensis, Setaria sphacelata, and Sporobolus pyramidalis, and lowest on Panicum maximum, Hyparrhenia rufa, Cynodon dactylon, and Paspalum scrobiculatum (&lt;40%). With respect to diet mixtures, the developmental time was significantly shorter (on average 16 days shorter), and survival was higher, in the most diversified diets compared to the least diversified diets. The contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids and fatty acid composition did not differ significantly among the diets. However, the content of monounsaturated fatty acids differed significantly among the diets and there was a significant diet*sex interaction. From the applied point of view, based on our results, for maximal weight and survival plus fast development, we recommend rearing on P. purpureum, C. gayana, B. ruziziensis, and S. sphacelata, and on dietary mixtures of inflorescences. These findings are important in designing large‐scale rearing programs for this species.

The influence of sex, genotype, and dose on serum and hippocampal cytokine levels in juvenile mice developmentally exposed to a human-relevant mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are pervasive environmental contaminants implicated as risk factors for neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Immune dysregulation is another NDD risk factor, and developmental PCB exposures are associated with early life immune dysregulation. Studies of the immunomodulatory effects of PCBs have focused on the higher-chlorinated congeners found in legacy commercial mixtures. Comparatively little is known about the immune effects of contemporary, lower-chlorinated PCBs. This is a critical data gap given recent reports that lower-chlorinated congeners comprise >70% of the total PCB burden in serum of pregnant women enrolled in the MARBLES study who are at increased risk for having a child with an NDD. To examine the influence of PCBs, sex, and genotype on cytokine levels, mice were exposed throughout gestation and lactation to a PCB mixture in the maternal diet, which was based on the 12 most abundant PCBs in sera from MARBLES subjects. Using multiplex array, cytokines were quantified in the serum and hippocampus of weanling mice expressing either a human gain-of-function mutation in ryanodine receptor 1 (T4826I mice), a human CGG premutation repeat expansion in the fragile X mental retardation gene 1 (CGG mice), or both mutations (DM mice). Congenic wildtype (WT) mice were used as controls. There were dose-dependent effects of PCB exposure on cytokine concentrations in the serum but not hippocampus. Differential effects of genotype were observed in the serum and hippocampus. Hippocampal cytokines were consistently elevated in T4826I mice and also in WT animals for some cytokines compared to CGG and DM mice, while serum cytokines were usually elevated in the mutant genotypes compared to the WT group. Males had elevated levels of 19 cytokines in the serum and 4 in the hippocampus compared to females, but there were also interactions between sex and genotype for 7 hippocampal cytokines. Only the chemokine CCL5 in the serum showed an interaction between PCB dose, genotype, and sex. Collectively, these findings indicate differential influences of PCB exposure and genotype on cytokine levels in serum and hippocampal tissue of weanling mice. These results suggest that developmental PCB exposure has chronic effects on baseline serum, but not hippocampal, cytokine levels in juvenile mice.

Effect of Dietary Mixture Containing Azolla and Spirulina Platensis on Physiological, Metabolic, Immunological and Histological Performance of GIFTTilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Cultured in Lined Ponds

Effect of Dietary Mixture Containing Azolla and Spirulina Platensis on Physiological, Metabolic, Immunological and Histological Performance of GIFTTilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Cultured in Lined Ponds

Modeling Effects of Complex Diet Mixtures on Cardiovascular Incidence in African American Women: The Women’s Health Initiative

Abstract Objectives Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of premature morbidity and mortality among African American women, and diet plays a crucial role in its prevention. Diet consists of a complex mixture of foods and nutrients, yet few existing statistical methods can account for potential nonlinear and interactive relationships between multiple dietary factors and their effects on health. To realistically assess dietary impacts on CVD risk among African American women, we utilized an innovative statistical approach, Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR), which takes into consideration the relationship between multiple dietary factors, as mixtures and as individual components, and CVD risk. Methods Using data from 2724 healthy African American participants of the Women's Health Initiative Observational Study, we examined the association of nine dietary factors (fruits, vegetables, fish, red meat, poultry, nuts, whole grains, dairy, and sodium), collected through a validated food frequency questionnaire, with both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and CVD incidence. Through a kernel machine representation, BKMR regresses the outcome on a smooth function of the exposures, adjusting for potential confounders and allowing for possible nonlinearities and interactions. We used BKMR for modeling the continuous outcome, SBP, and its probit extension for the binary outcome, CVD incidence. Results Whole grain and fish had the strongest associations with SBP. SBP decreased by 0.78 mmHg (95% credible interval (CI): −1.70, 0.14) and increased by 0.70 mmHg (95% CI: −0.12, 1.52) for an interquartile range (IQR) increase in whole grain and fish consumption, respectively. We saw a linear and increasing association between the diet mixture and CVD incidence. This trend was mainly driven by red meat consumption as the primary dietary risk factor to CVD incidence: an IQR increase in red meat consumption was associated with a 0.06-unit (95% CI: −0.02, 0.14) increase in the probit CVD risk. No evidence for interactions and nonlinearities was observed. Conclusions BKMR is a novel method for modeling complex dietary mixtures by incorporating potential nonlinearities and interactions, allowing identification of major dietary factors associated with elevated SBP and CVD incidence among a population disproportionally affected by CVD. Funding Sources NHLBI.

Combining stable isotopes, morphological, and molecular analyses to reconstruct the diet of free-ranging consumers.

Accurate estimates of animal diet composition are essential to untangle complex interactions in food webs. Biomarkers and molecular tools are increasingly used to estimate diet, sometimes alongside traditional dietary tracing methods. Yet only a few empirical studies have compared the outcomes and potential gains of using a combination of these methods, especially using free‐ranging animals with distinct foraging preferences.We used stable isotopes, morphological, and molecular analyses to investigate the diet of free‐ranging consumers with two distinct diet types, that is, carnivore and omnivore. By combining the three analytical methods to assess the diet of consumers during the same period, we aimed to identify the limits of each method and to assess the potential benefits of their combined use to derive diet estimates.Our results showed that the different methods led to a consistent diet description for carnivores, which have a relatively simple diet mixture, but their outcomes somewhat differed for omnivore, which have a more complex diet. Still, the combined use of morphological and molecular analyses enhanced the diversity of food sources detected compared to the use of a single method independently of diet types. Precision of diet estimates derived from stable isotope analyses was improved by the addition of priors obtained from morphological and molecular diet analyses of the same population.Although we used free‐ranging animals without a known diet, our empirical testing of three of the most widely used methods of diet determination highlights the limits of relying over a single approach, especially in systems with few or no a priori information about the foraging habits of consumers. The choice of an appropriate approach of diet description should be a key step when planning dietary studies of free‐ranging populations. We recommend using more than one dietary determination methods especially for species with complex diet mixtures.

Effect of a Dietary Mixture of Beneficial Bacteria on Growth Performance, Health Condition, Chemical Composition, and Water Quality of Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus Fingerlings

ABSTRACT Effects of dietary supplementation of Bifidobacterium longhum, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus on growth performance, health condition, body chemical composition, and water quality of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings were evaluated. Five experimental treatments in triplicate were fed a diet containing 30% crude protein supplemented with variable inclusion of bacterial mixture: control, T1, T2, T3, and T4 containing 0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 g bacterial mixture/kg diet, respectively. Fish fed the T4 diet had the highest final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, thermal growth coefficient, feed intake, and the best feed conversion ratio. No significant differences in body chemical composition of fish were observed in terms of dry matter, crude protein, lipid, ash, and energy content among all treatments. Probiotic supplementation showed no noticeable differences on haematological and biochemical blood parameters, except for packed cell volume, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, aspartate transaminase, glucose, uric acid, triglycerides, and cholesterol. Conclusively, Nile tilapia fingerlings diet supplemented with evaluated probiotic with an optimal dietary supplementation of 4 g/kg diet improved growth performance and fish health without a negative impact on water quality. This supplementation could therefore be used as a probiotic in Nile tilapia fingerlings diet.

Single or Combined Dietary Supply of Psidium guajava and Phyllanthus amarus Extracts Differentially Modulate Immune Responses and Liver Proteome in Striped Catfish (Pangasianodon hyphophthalmus).

Guava Psidium guajava L (Pg) and bhumi amla Phyllanthus amarus Schum. et Thonn (Pa) are well-known plants in traditional medicine. However, the capacity of these plants for improving the immune system of aquatic species has received less attention so far. This study aimed to investigate the effects of single supply or mixture of Pg and Pa extracts on immune responses, disease resistance and liver proteome profiles in striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus. Fish were fed diets including basal diet 0% or one of three doses of each plant extract, either alone or in mixture, 0.08, 0.2, or 0.5% Pg, Pa or mixture (Pg:Pa, v/v) for 6 weeks. The immune parameters (respiratory burst activity (RBA); nitric oxide synthase (NOS), total immunoglobulin, lysozyme, and complement activities) were examined at W3, W6 post-feeding, and after challenge test. The growth parameters and the challenge test with Edwardsiella ictaluri were done at W6. The liver proteome profiles were analyzed in W6 at 0.08 and 0.5% of each extract. The results showed that extract-based diets significantly improved growth parameters in the Pg0.2 group compared to control. The cellular immune responses in spleen and the humoral immune responses in plasma were significantly improved in a dose and time-dependent manner. Diets supplemented with single Pg and Pa extracts, and to lesser extent to combined extracts, could significantly decrease the mortality of striped catfish following bacterial infection compared to control. The proteomic results indicated that some pathways related to immune responses, antioxidant and lipid metabolism were enriched in liver at W6. Several proteins (i.e., CD8B, HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, PDIA3, CASP8, TUBA1C, CCKAR, GNAS, GRIN2D, PLCG1, PRKCA, SLC25A5, VDAC2, ACTN4, GNAI2, LCK, CARD9, NLRP12, and NLRP3) were synergistically upregulated in mixture of Pg and Pa-based diets compared to control and single dietary treatments. Taken together, the results revealed that single Pg and Pa extracts at 0.2 and 0.5% and their mixture at 0.08 and 0.5% have the potential to modulate the immune mechanisms and disease resistance of striped catfish. Moreover, the combination of Pg and Pa in diets suggested positive synergistic effects liver proteome profile related to immune system processes.

Gestational and early postnatal exposure to a mixture of organophosphate ester flame retardants found in Canadian house dust on hindlimb skeletal development in postnatal day 4 rats

Background: Ever since organophosphate esters (OPEs) became the mainstream replacement for organobromine compounds in fire retardants (FRs), numerous studies have explored their potential as endocrine disruptors and developmental toxicants. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of gestational and early postnatal exposure of OPE mixtures on the ossification of hindlimb phalangeal in postnatal day 4 (PND4) rat pups, as the amount of OPEs within the diet mixture is relative to its composition in Canadian household dust.Methods: Male and female adult Charles River Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to OPE mixtures for 70 and 21 days, respectively. The OPE doses were determined to be 10x, 1,000x, and 30,000x the relative human exposure. The progenies were exposed to OPEs both gestationally (~21 days) and lactationally (4 days). At least 2 of each sex from each litter were sacrificed and processed at PND4 for skeletal staining using Alizarin red and Alcian blue. The samples were analyzed and compared against a reference sample to examine any abnormalities in ossification.Results: At PND4, there is no significant effect of OPEs on the number of pups with abnormal ossification between the control and treatment groups. High doses of OPEs, at concentrations 30,000x of relative human exposures, showed a significant increase in the severity of delay of ossification at the middle phalanx of PND4 pups.Limitations: Due to the limitation of small sample sizes (litter n=6-7) and a wide variance in data, there is no clear evidence on whether OPE exposure induces greater incidences of abnormal ossification in the digits of PND4 pups.Conclusion: There is a delay in ossification from OPE exposure at the high dose (30,000x).

Phytogenic feed additives mixture enhances the lactational performance, feed utilization and ruminal fermentation of Friesian cows

The assay aimed to evaluate the effect of feeding a recently developed phytogenic feed additives mixture in diets of lactating Friesian cows (n = 30; 514 ± 10.1 kg body weight) for 3 months. Cows were stratified into three groups of 10 cows each and fed a control diet alone or the control diet supplemented with the additives mixture at 3 g (PHY3) or 6 g (PHY6)/cow daily. Menthol, levomenthol, β-linaloolm, anethole, hexadecanoic acid and p-menthane were the principle compounds identified in the additives mixture. The PHY3 increased (p < 0.01) intake and nutrient digestibility. PHY3 and PHY6 increased (p < 0.01) ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acids, propionate and acetate. PHY3 and PHY6 improved serum total protein and antioxidant capacity and decreased the concentrations of serum urea-N, triglycerides, total lipids, cholesterol and malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). PHY3 increased milk production and milk content of total solids, protein, lactose and fat. Both PHY3 and PHY6 did not affect mineral concentrations in blood or milk. It is concluded that the inclusion of 3 g/cow/d of feed additives mixture in the lactating Friesian cows diet enhanced milk production and feed utilization, with negative effects observed with increasing the dose of additives mixture to 6 g/cow daily.

In Utero and Lactational Exposure to Flame Retardants Disrupts Rat Ovarian Follicular Development and Advances Puberty.

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers and hexabromocyclododecane, leach out from consumer products into the environment. Exposure to BFRs has been associated with effects on endocrine homeostasis. To test the hypothesis that in utero and lactational exposure to BFRs may affect the reproductive system of female offspring, adult female Sprague Dawley rats were fed diets formulated to deliver nominal doses (0, 0.06, 20, or 60 mg/kg/day) of a BFR dietary mixture mimicking the relative congener levels in house dust from prior to mating until weaning. Vaginal opening and the day of first estrus occurred at a significantly earlier age among offspring from the 20 mg/kg/day BFR group, indicating that the onset of puberty was advanced. Histological analysis of ovaries from postnatal day 46 offspring revealed an increase in the incidence of abnormal follicles. A toxicogenomic analysis of ovarian gene expression identified upstream regulators, including HIF1A, CREB1, EGF, the β-estradiol, and PPARA pathways, predicted to be downregulated in the 20 or 60 mg/kg/day group and to contribute to the gene expression patterns observed. Thus, perinatal exposure to BFRs dysregulated ovarian folliculogenesis and signaling pathways that are fundamental for ovarian function in the adult.

Probiotic effects of mixture of Groenewaldozyma salmanticensis and Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens on growth and immune responses in Paralichthys olivaceus.

This study was performed to evaluate the effects of dietary probiotics on growth, non-specific immune responses and disease resistance in olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. During 8weeks, the fish were fed the five experimental diets such as a basal commercial diet (CON), oxytetracycline (OTC) and three basal diets containing Bacillus subtilis (BS), a commercial microbial product (CES) and a mixture of yeast and bacterium (PI), respectively. Fish fed all the probiotics diets and OTC showed a significantly higher growth than fish-fed CON (P<0·05). Fish-fed PI had a significantly higher nitroblue tetrazolium activity, whereas fish-fed CES showed a higher lysozyme level (P<0·05). A 7-day challenge test also showed that fish-fed PI had a cumulative survival rate equivalent to that of fish-fed OTC (P<0·05). Moreover, the diet (PI) appeared to increase the diversity of microbial community in the fish. All these results suggest that the probiotics diet could function as a potential antibiotic replacer in the olive flounder. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is unique in revealing that a diet mixture of yeast, Groenewaldozyma salmanticensis and bacterium Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens can enhance growth, innate immunity and diversity of microbial community including dominant species in the olive flounder. All these indicate that the diet mixture could function as a potential antibiotic replacer in one of the most commercially important fisheries in South Korea.

Leaching of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) from BFRs-incorporated plastics in digestive fluids and the influence of bird diets

Leaching kinetics of additive-derived brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in different sizes (100 μm–2 mm) of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) plastics were investigated in water, simulated gastric fluids, and simulated gastrointestinal fluids. The influences of bird diets (fish, clam, and rice) on the leaching of BFRs from plastics were also explored. The leaching kinetics of BFRs were best fitted with the second-order diffusion model. The leaching rates of BFRs increased for the less lipophilic BFRs in finer sizes of ABS. The log-transformed leached proportions of BFRs at equilibrium were significantly correlated with logKOW of BFRs (p < 0.05). BFRs migrated from ABS to digestive fluids and diet residues at equilibrium, since elevated concentrations of BFRs were observed in diet residues than virgin diet samples. Leached proportions of BFRs in gut fluids from mixture of ABS and diets were lower than those from only ABS. The logKOW of BFRs and the migration proportions of BFRs from ABS to digestive fluids and diet residues were fitted with linear regression analysis. The results indicate that more lipophilic BFRs are preferentially leached from BFRs-incorporated plastics into fluids and are further adsorbed by diet residues.

Partial replacement of fishmeal with corn gluten meal, pea protein isolate and their mixture in diet of black sea bream ( Acanthopagrus schlegelii ) juveniles: Effects on growth performance, feed utilization and haematological parameters

Corn gluten meal (CGM), pea protein isolate (PPI) and their mixture (CPP, 1:1 ratio) were evaluated as fishmeal (FM) alternatives in black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) juveniles (9.02 ± 0.12 g). A FM diet was designed as control, and other six diets had 20% and 40% FM protein replaced by CGM, PPI and CPP, respectively, with the supplementation of crystalline methionine, arginine and lysine. After the 8-week feeding trial, significantly lower weight gain was found in fish fed the 40% CGM diet (p < .05), whereas other treatments had no statistical difference (p > .05). The values of feed efficiency ratio and feed intake, as well as proximate compositions of muscle and whole body, were not significantly influenced in all treatments. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter, crude protein, threonine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine and lysine were significantly influenced by protein source. Fish fed the 40% CGM diet had significantly higher content of essential amino acid in muscle than that of the 20% PPI diet. Fish fed the 40% CGM diet had significantly lower content of serum cholesterol than other treatments (p < .05). Elevated serum superoxide dismutase activity was found in fish fed the 40% plant protein diets. In conclusion, between 20% and 40% FM protein could be replaced by CGM, while about 40% FM protein derived from PPI and CPP could be applied in black sea bream.

Varied diets, including broadleaved forage, are important for a large herbivore species inhabiting highly modified landscapes

Diet quality is an important determinant of animal survival and reproduction, and can be described as the combination of different food items ingested, and their nutritional composition. For large herbivores, human landscape modifications to vegetation can limit such diet-mixing opportunities. Here we use southern Sweden’s modified landscapes to assess winter diet mixtures (as an indicator of quality) and food availability as drivers of body mass (BM) variation in wild moose (Alces alces). We identify plant species found in the rumen of 323 moose harvested in Oct-Feb, and link variation in average calf BM among populations to diets and food availability. Our results show that variation in calf BM correlates with variation in diet composition, diversity, and food availability. A varied diet relatively rich in broadleaves was associated with higher calf BM than a less variable diet dominated by conifers. A diet high in shrubs and sugar/starch rich agricultural crops was associated with intermediate BM. The proportion of young production forest (0–15 yrs) in the landscape, an indicator of food availability, significantly accounted for variation in calf BM. Our findings emphasize the importance of not only diet composition and forage quantity, but also variability in the diets of large free-ranging herbivores.